ALBANY – The corruption-fighting State Investigations Commission secretly voted last week to probe Gov. Spitzer‘s selection of the scandal-scarred New York Racing Association to continue operating racetracks in the state, The Post has learned.

“The commission believed there was enough information that had been brought to its attention to warrant a full-blown investigation,” said the source.

“This is a highly unusual action involving potential bid-rigging and favoritism in awarding contracts with people in the governor’s office directly connected to it, it’s very serious,” the source continued.

The probe is expected to focus in part on the role played by the law firm Getnick & Getnick in Spitzer’s decision last month to recommend that the Legislature grant NYRA – which has held the exclusive rights to operate the Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga race tracks since 1955 – be granted a new, 30-year, franchise.

The SIC’s investigative staff recommended the probe in part because of detailed allegations contained in a 10-page memorandum outlining an alleged scheme by top aides to Spitzer to steer the racing franchise to NYRA, the source said.

The memorandum, a copy of which was obtained by The Post, may have originated with the legal staff of one of the three NYRA competitors for the franchise, sources said.